Top Things to do in Southern Poland
- 1. Wieliczka Salt Mine
- 2. Old Town
- 3. Main Market Square
- 4. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
- 5. Market Square (Rynek)
- 6. Church of Peace, Swidnica (Kosciol Pokoju w Swidnicy)
- 7. Pieniny Mountains National Park
- 8. National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio
- 9. Szczeliniec Wielki
- 10. Bieszczady National Park
Top Hotels in Southern Poland
- 1. Hotel Pollera
- 2. Metropolitan Boutique Hotel
- 3. PURO Krakow Kazimierz
- 4. Queen Boutique Hotel
- 5. Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto
- 6. Hotel Betmanowska Main Square Residence Adults Only
- 7. The Granary - La Suite Hotel
- 8. Amber Design Residence
- 9. Leonardo Boutique Hotel Krakow Old Town
- 10. Hotel Unicus Palace
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Southern Poland, Poland
Discover the best top things to do in Southern Poland, Poland including Wieliczka Salt Mine, Old Town, Main Market Square, Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Market Square (Rynek), Church of Peace, Swidnica (Kosciol Pokoju w Swidnicy), Pieniny Mountains National Park, National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio, Szczeliniec Wielki, Bieszczady National Park.
Restaurants in Southern Poland
1. Wieliczka Salt Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By eoireitum - scotland
I really did not get what other travellers got when visiting this mine, you go down loads of stairs and through endless tunnels while visiting various chambers.
Some of the carvings were good but there is also a few Styrofoam figures which are pretty poor. The Cathedral is impressive and i would say that was the highlight of a very ling tour.
Beware of the very small lift to the top in which nine people are crammed very tightly.
2. Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
After being leveled when the Nazis left, this whole neighborhood of cobblestone Gothic streets and alleyways, baroque palaces, numerous churches and tiered burghers' houses were masterfully reconstructed to reflect the atmosphere of bygone days.
3. Main Market Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Huge 10-acre square, the largest in any of Europe's medieval cities, features the 16th-century Renaissance Cloth Hall and the splendid 14th-century Gothic Basilica of the Virgin Mary.
Reviewed By Richard B - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The main market square is a point of convergence for all the roads from almost every direction.
A beautiful square with pretty historical buildings. This is archetypical Krakow. A wealth of history and life in days gone by. Today a hive of activity for restaurants, bars and the market stalls.
4. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Established by the Nazis in 1940, Auschwitz-Birkenau has become a symbol of terror, genocide and the Holocaust. Although the exact number of victims is unknown, many Jews, Poles and gypsies died here. The museum consists of two parts: Auschwitz I, the first and oldest camp (the number of prisoners fluctuated around 15,000, sometimes rising above 20,000) and Auschwitz II, Birkenau (which held more than 90,000 prisoners in 1944). The greater part of the apparatus of mass extermination was built in Birkenau and the majority of the victims were murdered there.
Reviewed By prashan3253 - London, United Kingdom
We flew all the way form Sri Lanka recently to Auschwitz death/extermination camp in Krakow, Poland. It's chilling what the Nazi Germans did to the Jews and the crimes against humanity...the systematic dehumanisation & industrialised process...the killing of 6 Million innocent Jews during WW2.
The Holocaust started with the genocide of 2 million Jews in mass shootings by the Nazi Germans. To relieve the psychological impact of killing on the Nazi guards, Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, Adolf Eichmann & Heinrich Muller resorted to "Zyklon B" (a highly poisonous insecticide used to kill rats). The Jews were deported from all over Europe in sealed freight trains to extermination camps where, if they survived the journey, they were killed in gas chambers. This was also thought to be a humane way of killing (not to the victims, but to the perpetrators)
The entire visit makes you question "why?" why all the hate, why the lack of compassion, why would a race do this to another race...why??
Anyone who advocates, preachers or practices racism of any kind, should visit Auschwitz (or watch the Auschwitz dvd) and realise that from small beginnings, the Holocaust emerged and lead to the deaths of 6 million people whose only "crime" was to be Jewish.
Heartbreaking, but necessary to go and visit. Makes you even more grateful for the gift of life. Let's live in peace with one another. Don't ever let history repeat itself.
5. Market Square (Rynek)
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Charlotte H
I love a brightly coloured collection of buildings so this square was tourist heaven for me! Most of the square was reconstructed after the war but it is not obvious. There are plenty of restaurants, tourist information centres and souvenir shops in the square... as well as a few Wroclaw dwarfs to find!
6. Church of Peace, Swidnica (Kosciol Pokoju w Swidnicy)
Overall Ratings
5 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By Adrianna Karoli... M - Poland
It was a huge WOOOW! Modest from the outside, beautiful, rich inside. Easy to get to by car. In 1618 started a war that lasted for 30 years. After the treaty was signed, catholics were much stronger at this area co protestants could build only 3 churches. But what churches! According to legends protestants could build churches but with delicate materials - to be destroyed sooner of later. They were built with sand, wood, with not many nails. It was planned that they would be in debris soon. As it was built thanks to the treaty after war it was named Church of Peace. There were tree wooden churches in 3 different cities. A church in the first city collapsed. Workers were smarter and more experienced so a church built in the second city was even bigger and more solid. The third one was built in Swidnica. It is the most solid, the biggest one. It is the biggest wooden church in Europe (7500 people can be inside- co many because it has balconies), At the nearby cementary granddad of Bismarck is buried. Absolutely magnificent building - visit it!
7. Pieniny Mountains National Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By Domrcpl - Minnesota
We took a raft down the river that runs through the Pieniny Mountain National Park. And I am so glad we did. Some of the rafts may look rickety but they all seemed to do okay and no one was overly concerned about it. For the most part the river is calm with just a few spots where it is just bit rough but certainly nothing to be worried about. The colorfully dressed boatmen may not speak English but they are certainly eager to point out interesting formations and wildlife along the way. The best part is the views that you get of the gorges and magnificent rock faces all along the way. It is a relaxing way to spend part of the day. If there is one disappointment, it was the lack of vibrancy in the terminus of the river trip. One gets off the boat (I forget the name of the town) but there did not seem to be much for tourists to see or buy. Even the restaurants could use an upgrade. But the memory of the views along the river is what stays with you and you can't help but think this is god's country.
8. National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio
Overall Ratings
5 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By JonDoe04134 - Lidingo, Sweden
The building is not only beautiful from the outside, paying homage to the history and architecture of the region of Upper Silesia. It's also jaw-droppingly gorgeous inside. But even more importantly, the concert hall is cutting edge, which combined with excellent musicians results in an unforgetable experience.
9. Szczeliniec Wielki
Overall Ratings
5 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By endrju_74 - Ipswich, United Kingdom
Nature at its finest. A flat top mountain, where large in size rock platform has carved maze inside, with all sorts of passages between fantastic rock formations, all on three levels. Access from Karłów (many car parks, all paid, filling up quickly in season) or from Pasterka (car park in forest, good for day stay, don't leave your car overnight - managers from the hut on Szczeliniec put up a warning, that car left there might be a subject of bulglary). From both mentioned villages path leads to the foot of Szczeliniec, than there's only one path to the hut on Szczeliniec, with superb views from about three viewing platforms. Surprisigly many people finish they trips here - maybe because top part of Szczeliniec is accessible with ticket only. Entrance behind the hut. The real labirynth starts from there. About an hour of walking on quite narrow paths between the rocks. Great views from many places. Viewing platform of Fotel Pradziada - highest peak on Szczeliniec, also highest in Góry Stołowe (Table Mountains). Way down on very steep metals stairs. Absolutely must see.
10. Bieszczady National Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 115 reviews
Poland's largest national park, measuring 27,064 hectares, includes the dramatic Bieszczady Mountains, Forests, open meadows and a variety of wildlife.
Reviewed By JadwigaZytka - Warsaw, Poland
For nature and hiking lovers it would be the perfect destination. For those who are not used to harsh nature conditions it could be a bit unconfortable. Be prepared for problems with mobile conncetions, with great amount of mud especially in Spring. Be preared also that there are roughly no facilities in the Park but there is a pay point at the beginning of every most popular trail. However, despite all those difficulties the nature and views are rewarding.
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